Letter: Media council short-sighted when it comes to big picture

Sunday, January 6, 2013

To the Times:

The Golden Goose was not welcome in Media. Borough council did a great disservice to the business community and citizens of Media. By placing petty and unnecessary roadblocks in their path they forced Wawa to cancel their planned new store in Media. This plan was backed by the Delaware County Planning Commission, the Media Business Authority, many local residents and businesses and any knowledgeable person who wants to encourage a thriving business district in Media.

This development would have transformed a vacant lot and created more jobs, more tax revenue and more construction fees than the borough has seen in 20 years. It won't, due to some small-minded individuals who care more about their own provincial attitude than what is best for the town. This is the same mindset and many of the same individuals that affected restrictive zoning laws in the '90s to "encourage retail business." Instead they created a street full of nail salons, hairdressers and bars where once more than 100 retail businesses stood. The Media business community came out against it then and we were ignored then, too. What Media has are politicians with no business sense dictating business policies and ignoring the advice of experts and the business community. It's more than 20 years later and the inmates are still running the asylum!

Borough citizens should be outraged when council inevitably raises taxes or cuts services due to the budget. This one business would have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue to the Borough of Media. At least 40 jobs would have come to town and Wawa was willing to promote State Street businesses and community events inside their store. Council callously disputed a world-class traffic survey indicating the Wawa was the least disruptive use of the property. Even the neighboring State Street residents were in favor of the project which improved Baker Street and moved the entrance from Providence Road to State Street at Wawa's expense.

Small towns need more than small minded people charting the future. In an age of economic downturn, governmental agencies throw incentives to companies to relocate. In Media, they discourage valued businesses from locating here and settle for tattoo parlors. These same folks are now going to create the new Comprehensive Plan. The last time they did that they paid for a $50,000 study and then ignored just about everything that was recommended. Don't be surprised to see less parking, higher fees, more anti-business restrictions and higher taxes for everyone. More importantly, State Street is being deprived of a five-star anchor that would have helped every business in town.

When those taxes go up, services are reduced, or someone you know is out of a job and looking for work, don't blame the county or the federal government; just send thank-you notes to Media Borough Council! That's about all you can do, as the dozens of emails and letters sent to council in support of Wawa were ignored in favor of the few against. Until we get some more intelligent and far-sighted individuals on council, we are doomed to repeat the same counterproductive policies of the past.